A very sad holiday season

I hate to be a downer, but we just got through the saddest holiday season of my life. My dear mom, and the kids' "Mimi," passed away on Dec. 27. She was 91. She died on my birthday. I can't even believe it.
Mom had a stroke in June 2013, when she was 88. She made a fantastic recovery and lived alone in her condo for close to two years. We think she had a series of mini strokes in mid-November and beyond, and it was all downhill after that. She passed away at Aaron Manor, a nursing home about two-tenths of a mile from her condo in Penfield.
Matty was a pall bearer at her funeral, along with my cousins Brian DiRienzo, Michael DiRiezo and Tom Dennis, plus Doug's son (my nephew) Mark and Butch's grandson Johnathan.
I can't put into words how much we will miss my beautiful mom. I think about her every hour of every day.
The week after her death, we received what we believe were a series of signs from heaven. Lights going on and off. Knocking noises. Kerri smelling Mom's scent in our bedroom.
We love you, Mimi.

Christmas was hard. Mom declined significantly on Christmas Eve, and most of us were just going through the motions. Matty's top gift was a Go Pro Camera, which will allow him to actually take photos and video under water or basically in any kind of weather. Sophie got her Barbie Dream House, and she (and Matty) love to play with it.

We had an addition to the house! Bob our Elf was joined in mid-December by his sister, Zoey. Zoey's real name is Snowflake, according to Santa Claus. But she wanted a "human" name and Sophie named her "Zoey." Matty is the one who named Bob four years ago :-)

Just an update on a very tough holiday season. Thank God we have each other.

I found this pic of my mom and dad from the 1940s. They look so wonderful.

Here's to you, Mimi. We love you!